the sportsman in Scannell, and he stepped it alertly; through manuka and tawhina scrub, round the swamp head, and up the tussock terraces beyond.
The dew had loosed scent on the still air. Scent of tussock and languid-sweet manuka bloom; of bush in far-below gulHes, and cow breath and subtle smells from the flax and the faint evening primrose. To the westing the long, long afterglow quivered stiU in pale gold, and the rush of the river round the terrace foot sounded clear and serene. Ted was not speaking, for the calm of the night was steadying his soul against what should be. Ike listened, sharp-eared, for the kea call, and whistled out the answer gladly when sound caught them on the lip of the first slope.
They dropped over it as one, and unshorn ewes blundered away at their coming. But a dark heap lay on the breast of the tussock with a picnic party atop. .
The party cursed in parrot jabber; drew off five paces, and cursed again. Guns spoke thrice with red fire. Then Ted came on his knee, feeling over the bloody wool for the kid- neys that yet were warm.
"There's life enough in the blood to pull the p'ison through it," he said, and proceeded to work straightway.
Ike nosed his way forward carefully,
